Tip for canes or crutches.



Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

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J. H. READING.

TIP FOR OANBS 0B ORUTOHES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 6. 1910.

JOSEPH I-I. READING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIP FOR CANES OR CRUTCHES.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Application led July 6, 1910. Serial No. 570,603.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn H. READING, a citizen of the United States ot' America, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tips for Canes or Crutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tips for canes or crutches, and it has for an object the provision of a movable spur which may be used as an antislipping d evice to prevent the user of the crutch or cane from slipping on frozen surfaces or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thisl character wherein a movable actuating member is mounted on the tip of the stick and operatively connected with a longitudinally movable spur which is designed so that on movement in one direction ofthe actuating element it will occupy its extended position so that its pointed end will protrude through the cushioning element or rubber.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the actuating member and the movable spur so that they can be conveniently and effectively removed from the stick when it is desired to replace a worn spur by a new one.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a stick showing my improved tip applied thereto, the spur being shown in an extended position and the cushion of the stick being removed for the purpose of clearness. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 1.

The stick A may represent a crutch or a walking cane, and as illustrated, it is provided at one end with a stem 2 on which is rotatably mounted an actuating member 3. This member is of cylinder form preferably, and formed spirally therein is a slot t whose lower end terminates at a pointnear the lower end of said member and is offset slightly, as shown at 5. The upper end of the slot is extended in a direct longitudinal plane with the member and it opens directly onto the upper end of the member, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The stem portion 2 of the stick is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 6 in which the spur 7 is movably mounted. This spur is ot' substantially L-form and its vertical shank 8 is pointed at its lower end, as shown at 9. At the upper end the stem portion 10 of the spur extends through the slot 6 and through the spiral slot .4 in the actuating member so that at will of the operator he may operate such member to move the spur to a withdrawn position or to an extended position as the occasion may demand. A sleeve 11 is mounted on the stem 2 of the stick and it is interposed between the shoulder B of the stick and the upper edge of the actuating member 3, it being spaced slightly therefrom to permit of slight longitudinal movement of the actuating member so that when the member is moved to cause the stem 10 of the spur to assume the position shown in Fig. 1 it will be seated in the offset portion 5 of the slot 4 to prevent any casual rotation of the actuating member. The actuating member is formed to provide an annular slot 12 through which the shank of a retaining screw 13 extends. The shank of the screw extends into the stem of the stick and its transverse diameter is less than the width of the slot 12 to permit of the slight longitudinal movement of the actuating member.

A pad or cushion of rubber or the like is illustrated at 14. It is cut to receive the lower end of the actuating member and it is apertured centrally, as shown at 15, to permit of the desired longitudinal movement of the spur.

The construction of the device described and illustrated herein is extremely simple. It may be manufactured at a relatively low cost, and through its use it will be found most effective in that its user may at his own discretion extend or retract the spur as the occasion may demand.

A disk-like member 16 is secured to the lower end of the stem 2 and it is formed to provide a guide slot through which the spur extends. This plate acts as al wear element to prevent any undue wear or strain on the lower end of the stick.

I claim:

A stick having a longitudinal slot therein opening at one end directly onto one end of the stick and at lone side onto the side of the stick, and a spur having a pointed shank portion slidable in the slot and through one end of the stick and provided with a stem portion extending outwardly from the side the spur to be removed from the side of the 10 of the stick and slidable between the Walls of slot when the spur actuating member is rethe Slot; of means movably mounted on the moved from the stick.

stiel; and surrounding the slotted end there- In testimony whereof I affix my Signature of and operatively connected With the stem in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

of the spur to move the stem longitudinally JOSEPH H. READING.

to an extended or retracted position, the said Witnesses:

slot having a portion ooextensive in length L. W. HURLBURT,

With the length of the spur so as to permit LAURITZ THoEN.

Copies of this patent mav be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente Washington, D. C. 

